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How to become a real estate appraiser in Iowa. Trainee: 75 hrs education. Licensed Residential: 200 hrs + 1,000 hrs experience. All four tiers documented with fees, exams, and AQB comparison. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Real Estate Appraiser
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84% of data points are verified against official sources. 7 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
75 hrs
TRAINEE ED.
200 hrs
LICENSED RES. ED.
1,500 hrs
CERT. RES. EXP.
3,000 hrs
CERT. GEN. EXP.
Real estate appraiser licensing follows a tiered path. Each level builds on the previous one with additional education and experience.
Scope: May assist in appraisals of any property type under direct supervision of a certified appraiser; cannot sign appraisal reports independently
Degree: No college degree required by AQB for Licensed Residential tier
Scope: Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $1,000,000; complex 1-4 unit residential with transaction value less than $250,000
Degree: Associate degree or higher required
Scope: All residential properties of 1-4 units regardless of value or complexity; does not include commercial or non-residential properties
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher required
Scope: All types of real property — residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural — without regard to value or complexity
Also referred to as Associate Appraiser in Iowa
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee
No exam required at this level
Must work under direct supervision of a Certified Residential or Certified General appraiser. Supervisor must complete the AQB-approved Supervisor/Trainee Course.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must hold a Certified Residential or Certified General credential in good standing for at least 3 years and have completed the Supervisor/Trainee Course
May assist in appraisals of any property type under direct supervision of a certified appraiser; cannot sign appraisal reports independently
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained in no fewer than 6 months under supervision of a certified appraiser
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Licensed Residential
Provider: Prometric (on behalf of the AQB)
Passing score: Pass/Fail as determined by AQB cut score
Fee: $145
No college degree required by AQB for Licensed Residential tier
Iowa does not add a college requirement at this level
Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $1,000,000; complex 1-4 unit residential with transaction value less than $250,000
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours of documented appraisal work in no fewer than 12 months
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Certified Residential
Provider: Prometric (on behalf of the AQB)
Passing score: Pass/Fail as determined by AQB cut score
Fee: $145
Associate degree or higher required
Associate degree in a focused field of study (e.g., business, accounting, finance, economics, real estate) from an accredited institution, OR Bachelor's degree or higher, OR equivalent coursework (30 semester hours in specified subjects)
All residential properties of 1-4 units regardless of value or complexity; does not include commercial or non-residential properties
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours of documented appraisal work in no fewer than 18 months; at least 1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Certified General
Provider: Prometric (on behalf of the AQB)
Passing score: Pass/Fail as determined by AQB cut score
Fee: $145
Bachelor's degree or higher required
Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, or equivalent coursework
All types of real property — residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural — without regard to value or complexity
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Criminal background check required; fee of $51 paid to the state
Fingerprinting
Required
USPAP Requirement
15-Hour National USPAP Course required as part of qualifying education; 7-Hour USPAP Update required every 2 years for renewal
| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $200 | — | $51 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $150 | $145 | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $150 | $145 | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $150 | $145 | — | $40 |
The National Registry fee ($40/year) is paid to the federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) and applies to all appraisers performing federally-related transactions.
Complete 75 hours of qualifying education (Basic Appraisal Principles, Basic Appraisal Procedures, 15-hour USPAP)
Submit Trainee Appraiser application with $200 fee and $51 background check fee through the DIAL licensing portal
Gain experience under direct supervision of a Certified appraiser
Complete additional qualifying education hours for desired credential level
Submit exam application ($150) and schedule exam through Prometric ($145)
Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam
Submit license application and pay applicable fees
Register with the ASC National Registry ($40 annual fee)
CE Hours Per Cycle
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$200 (Associate) / $280 (Certified)
28 hours required per 2-year cycle; includes 7-hour USPAP Update and 7-hour Valuation Bias & Fair Housing course (effective 2026). Licenses expire June 30 on a biennial basis (A-K even years, L-Z odd years). No carryover of CE hours permitted.
Iowa offers temporary practice permits for out-of-state appraisers. Applicants from states with substantially equivalent requirements may apply for reciprocal licensure.
Temporary practice: Available for $100; allows temporary practice while full application is processed
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers must be listed on the ASC National Registry to perform appraisals for federally related transactions
Unique to Iowa
Iowa requires 200 hours of qualifying education for the Licensed Residential tier, which significantly exceeds the AQB minimum of 150 hours. The state also uses a unique renewal schedule based on the first letter of the appraiser's last name.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Iowa.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#9 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate (SOC 13-2023)
Entry Level
$57,680
25th percentile
Median
$79,420
+21% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$101,140
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
730 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate" includes both appraisers and assessors. Tax assessors and other non-appraisal roles are included in this figure.
Source: BLS OEWS – Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate (May 2024)
Real Estate Career Ladder+118% salary growth potential
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
$79,420
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$36,420
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$116,920
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$79,420
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Estimated total: 60–166 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau (under DIAL) — Licensing Requirements
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau (under DIAL) — Licensing Requirements
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All data verified as of 2026-03-21. Sources consulted:
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Already a licensed real estate agent? Many appraisers start as agents. Compare Iowa real estate agent requirements →